Product lifecycle management (PLM) is the essential tool that helps keep product data organized and up to date. Without PLM, businesses can have information discrepancies that result in decisions being made based on incorrect information. By using PLM everyone has access to the information they need right when they need it.

However, when it comes to PLM solutions – there are a lot of platforms available. Here is our PLM software comparison between Windchill vs Enovia – so you can determine which is best for you. (Remember, as a PTC reseller we are a little biased, but we have a lot of expertise in the tools various organizations need and have attempted to remain as neutral as possible in our comparison).

Windchill vs Enovia: When it comes to PLM solutions – which is better?

Windchill vs Enovia: Feature Breakdown

features

Platform

If you use PTC Creo or other PTC products, then the Windchill UI will be very familiar to you. This means you can immediately start using Windchill with minimal user training.

Enovia, on the other hand, is part of Dassault’s 3D experience collection and shares a common UI with those products. This common UI is a step in the right direction, but since it is still new, users will likely have to deal with a few iterations before it feels as comfortable and seamless as the Windchill interface.

Windchill provides an easy to understand UI that requires minimal user training.

Role-Based Tools

Windchill comes powered with built-in predefined roles that provide functional access based on the tools that a specific role requires. It aims to address specific user challenges and allows organizations to modify roles to fit new positions as needed.

Enovia claims to have “role-based” tools and interfaces but they are highly generalized and end up not providing the features that are needed to address specific user issues.

Windchill’s role-based features ensure that specific users have access to the tools that they need.

Product Offerings

Both platforms have comprehensive and comparable product offerings. While the modules make it seem that Enovia is favorable, the functionality is essentially the same between both platforms.

Windchill

  • Bill of materials management
  • Configuration and change management
  • Requirements management
  • Quality
  • Platform structures
  • Product data management
  • Collaboration
  • Integration and standards

Enovia

  • Bill of materials management
  • Configuration and change management
  • Design management
  • IP classification and protection
  • Product planning and program management
  • Quality and compliance
  • Strategic customer relationships
  • Strategic supplier relationships

Both Windchill and Enovia include comprehensive product offerings to support your essential PLM needs.

Industries

You want to make sure that the platform you choose can serve the industry you need. PTC has taken the time to address industry-specific issues in its product.

Enovia’s list is visibly longer, but when you deep dive into the platform there is little functional difference between industry verticals. Product descriptions don’t even include industry-specific jargon and insight. It appears that their industry list is mostly for surface value rather than product functionality.

Windchill

  • Aerospace and defense
  • Smart cities
  • Oil and gas
  • Healthcare
  • Retail
  • Manufacturing

Enovia

  • Aerospace and defense
  • Architecture
  • Engineering and construction
  • Consumer goods and retail
  • Energy
  • Process and utilities
  • Financial services
  • High tech
  • Industrial equipment
  • Life sciences
  • Marine and offshore
  • Transportation and mobility

PTC has taken the time to ensure that Windchill addresses specific industry needs.

Connectivity and IoT

In the midst of industry 4.0, the ability to connect across systems is essential. Windchill allows users to connect and receive insights from production equipment, making it possible to quickly identify design and quality issues. It also includes a broad range of connectivity options to other enterprise systems and applications.

Enovia’s connectivity capabilities are simply not up to par with those of PTC Windchill.

Windchill includes advanced connectivity to support technical operations that require or benefit from real-time reporting.

Deployment

Everyone wants a platform that works in the cloud – and Windchill does just that. PTC completed their transformation to flexible cloud deployment a few years ago and provides users with the option of utilizing private cloud or on-premise deployments.

Enovia is also available on the cloud and users can utilize the tools from any browser. Unfortunately, not all of the Enovia offerings have transitioned to the cloud. Users will likely find slight differences in UI or functionality between on-premise and cloud offerings.

Windchill offers well-established on-premise or cloud deployments.

Support

Similar to other PTC products, Windchill has an active online user community that helps each other answer various questions. PTC also offers complete online support as well as self-reporting options so you can always get the answers you need right when you need them.

The Enovia platform includes a public library of essential support documents including white papers, videos, and how-to guides. Dassault also has an online user community, but it tends to not be as robust as the PTC group. Enovia support is comparable to other PLM competitors but is not as comprehensive as the Windchill offerings.

Windchill provides robust and comprehensive support.

PLM Software Comparison Winner: PTC Windchill

When it comes to your PLM solution, you want to make sure that you have the tools and features you need to support your organization now and in the future. While Enovia has the basic PLM requirements, it lacks the depth and specificity of including what is needed to address specific industry or user challenges. As we mentioned, we are a little biased, but PTC’s continued investment in product improvement and supporting the latest technology is another important driver that ensures Windchill will be able to support your organization for years to come.